Our History

Aunt Jemima has a rich history spanning over 120 years. Read on to learn more about important milestones in the fascinating history of the Aunt Jemima brand.

1889

Chris Rutt and Charles Underwood of the Pearl Milling Company developed Aunt Jemima, the first ready mix.

1890

R.T. Davis purchased the struggling Aunt Jemima Manufacturing Company. He then brought the Aunt Jemima character to life when he hired Nancy Green as his spokeswoman.

1914

The image of Aunt Jemima was so popular that the company was renamed the Aunt Jemima Mills Company.

1926

The Quaker Oats Company purchased the Aunt Jemima Mills Company.

1933

For the Chicago World’s Fair in 1933, the advertising planners decided to bring the Aunt Jemima character back to life. They hired Anna Robinson, described as a large, gregarious woman with the face of an angel. She traveled the country promoting Aunt Jemima until her death in 1951.

1937

Quaker’s first registration of the Aunt Jemima trademark occurred in April, 1937.

1955

From the mid 1950’s until the late 1960’s Aylene Lewis was hired to portray Aunt Jemima at the Aunt Jemima restaurant in the newly opened Disneyland.

1957

Quaker introduced Aunt Jemima Buttermilk Pancake & Waffle Mix. Also at this time, Quaker began to advertise on television, showing kids and moms making not just pancakes but, “Aunt Jemimas”.

1966

Quaker introduced syrup under the Aunt Jemima trademark and used the campaign, “Aunt Jemima, what took you so long?”.

1968

Quaker introduced the Aunt Jemima frozen waffle and advertised it with a “toaster jingle”. In the same year Quaker also began the seven years running campaign using the song, “Aunt Jemima Syrup, Pancakes or Waffles without her…”.